History

Battleroar is a traditional epic metal band formed in Athens in September 2000. The roots of the band's style sink deep into the sound of legendary 80s American and European bands such as Manilla Road, Omen, Cirith Ungol, Brocas Helm, Manowar, Jag Panzer and Heavy Load. The band's name was in fact taken from the lyrics to Heavy Load's song 'Singing Swords' ("I loved the battleroar").

Battleroar is a band really focusing on live activity. Even from the early days, the band revealed its potential on stage and following the persistent demand of their already die hard fans they performed as many gigs possible to spread the word of their music within the underground circles and community. The feedback from these early shows was really encouraging. This made the band release its first promo CD, containing 5 songs which is actually a live recorded rehearsal that was offered to the fans on the first major support act with Brocas Helm back in November 2001.

Straight after, in March 2002, the band re-entered the studio to record the first official release, a self financed 7" titled 'Dragonship', which again was quite successfully embraced by the band's fans. After two highly successful shows in Athens with Omen, the band went through a 2 member change, which actually gave the band a new potential.

With the new line up the band started recording the first self-titled album 'Battleroar', recorded in spring 2003 and released at the end of August of the same year by the Greek label Omicron Music. Omen's legendary U.S. Metal axeman Kenny Powell contributed solo parts on the track 'Megaloman'. The album contained 9 tracks of heroic epic metal that helped the band get recognition worldwide among the epic underground scene.

After many release parties around Greece and many radio and TV interviews, the band relied mostly on live activity supporting groups like Manilla Road, Jag Panzer, Omen, Doomsword, Edguy etc. The reputation of the band had grown enough to be asked to play several festivals in Germany like the Headbangers Open Air and the Keep it True.

The time had come for the second studio album and September 2004 saw Battleroar joining forces with Black Lotus Records under which the 'Age of Chaos' was released in October 2005. The participation of Mark Shelton, the mind and soul of Manilla Road in 2 songs of the album, and the great reviews that the album received worldwide, surpassed every expectations of the band.

The band toured the countries like Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy and Ireland. This tour was followed by a huge success that really made it clear that Battleroar is a band with a great future not only in the epic metal scene, but in the whole heavy metal movement. Battleroar is supported by an ever-growing fan club, "Swordbrothers".

In 2007 the band started writing songs for their next album and also played some big festivals such as "March Metal Day" in Greece, "Play It Loud Festival" in Italy and "Up The Hammers Festival" in Greece. A record deal with the Italian label Cruz Del Sur was signed and at the end of the year the band started recordings for the next album called 'To Death and Beyond...'. In April 2008 the band was invited to play at the legendary "Keep It True Festival" in Germany and also supported epic metal heroes Manilla Road in Switzerland and France. 0n April the 24th the new album was released

In autumn 2009 the vocalist Marco Concoreggi left the band and the band announced John Papanikolaou as their new vocalist.

(source: Battleroar, December 2009)
(discography incomplete)